AGP Executive Report

Carnival & Culture: Antigua Festivals Commission says the biggest Carnival City build is on track, with the stage and roof complete and more venue upgrades coming, while a new grand stage is being installed at the ARG ahead of Summer Festival and a Music Development Masterclass wrapped this week to boost local talent. Tourism & Investment: PM Browne says Sandals will pay a $6.5m tax settlement as it moves ahead with a major expansion at Grande Antigua, and he outlined plans for $13.5m upgrades at Jolly Beach, plus talks with Club Med and TUI about acquiring Jolly Beach—though the government says it can’t afford to lose too many rooms. Governance & Accountability: Browne tells the DPP to explain controversial prosecutorial decisions to maintain public confidence, and Cabinet tightens work permit rules to push employers to recruit qualified nationals first. Land & Housing: Government warns illegal Barbuda structures could be demolished, while Perry Bay is earmarked for a new housing-and-marina development after Cabinet approved surveying 13 acres. Public Safety & Crime: Nearly 60 pounds of suspected cannabis were seized at VC Bird Airport with a man in custody, and police again arrested Blackhawks in Parish League cricket. Health & Community: Tributes continue for surgeon Dr Subbiah Radhakrishnan after he was found dead outside his Belmont home, and a neighbour remembers his kindness. Youth & Education: Director of Education Clare Browne urges CSEC awardees to pair success with integrity, and students won FCCA environmental poster and essay honours; meanwhile, Tuvalu’s youth leader and 23 young people were selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum taskforce.

Airport Drug Bust: Police are questioning a 54-year-old Antiguan-born pastor after nearly 60 pounds of suspected cannabis were seized from his luggage at V.C. Bird International Airport, with packages reportedly linked to a New York address. Health Tragedy: Tributes and an investigation follow the death of senior surgeon Dr. Subbiah Radhakrishnan (Dr. Krishnan), found unresponsive outside his Belmont home; authorities have not confirmed the cause. PM on Accountability & Policy: Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the DPP should provide at least a level of justification for controversial prosecutorial decisions, while also pushing education funding through a possible expansion of the windfall tax and reviewing ABST’s structure. Tourism & Development Push: Browne defended Sandals’ planned overwater bungalows and disclosed a $6.5 million tax settlement, while also announcing $13.5 million in upgrades for Jolly Beach Resort and construction progress at Willoughby Bay. Local Governance & Jobs: Cabinet warned illegal Barbuda structures could face demolition and tightened work permit rules to prioritise qualified nationals. Community & Culture: A new concrete pier is planned for Keeling Point; a “Peace Beach” project is set for Barnacle Point; and a larger grand stage is being installed at the ARG for Carnival 2026.

Medical Tragedy: Police are investigating the death of senior surgeon Dr. Subbiah Radhakrishnan (Dr. Krishnan), found unresponsive outside his Belmont home on June 12; authorities have not confirmed the cause. Accountability in Justice: PM Gaston Browne says the DPP should explain controversial prosecutorial decisions to maintain public confidence, pushing back on claims that the office need not justify discretion. Education Push: Browne says about 130 people have signed up for the UWI Five Islands Campus’ new law programme, and proposes expanding the windfall tax beyond banks to help fund education. Tourism and Investment: Browne reports $6.5m in a tax settlement with Sandals, outlines $13.5m upgrades for Jolly Beach Resort, and says Club Med and TUI are interested in acquiring Jolly Beach; he also says construction is underway at Willoughby Bay. Local Development: Government plans to rebuild Keeling Point Pier and is advancing “Peace Beach” at Barnacle Point for public recreation, marine learning and conflict resolution. Jobs and Work Permits: Cabinet tightens work permit rules, requiring employers to show genuine efforts to hire qualified nationals first. Barbuda Land Enforcement: Cabinet warns illegal structures in Barbuda could be demolished as land registry work continues. Youth and Culture: 23 young people are selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum taskforce, and the Culture Department announces training for Soca and Calypso adjudicators ahead of Carnival.

Work Permits Tightened: Cabinet says employers must show genuine efforts to recruit qualified Antiguans and Barbudans before foreign workers get permits, with the One Stop Employment Centre continuing to match job seekers to vacancies. Housing & Land Enforcement: Perry Bay is set for a major mixed-use push after 13 acres are earmarked for surveying for housing and a marina, while Barbuda warns illegal structures could be demolished as land registry work and land-law enforcement intensify. CHOGM Youth Build-Up: Twenty-three young people were selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum taskforce, and Youth Ambassador Byron Christopher is in China for a leadership seminar. Carnival & Culture: A new, larger grand stage is going up at the Antigua Recreation Ground, and the Culture Department will train Soca and Calypso adjudicators on June 20. Tourism & Community: Two resorts publicly welcomed LGBTQIA+ travellers for Pride Month, and students won FCCA environmental and essay honours. Public Health Loss: Tributes continue after surgeon Dr. Subbiah Radhakrishnan was found unresponsive outside his Belmont home; police investigations are ongoing.

Pride & Tourism: Pineapple Beach Club Antigua and The Verandah Resort and Spa publicly reaffirmed LGBTQIA+ inclusion for Pride Month, telling travellers they can book without “unspoken questions” and promising a welcoming, respectful stay. Education & Youth: Antigua and Barbuda’s top CSEC performers were honoured at the 40th National CSEC Awards, with Kaylei John-Baptiste named Student of the Year, while 23 young people were selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum taskforce ahead of CHOGM in November. Public Service Pay: Public servants say they’re still waiting on promised back pay after the April 30 election, with frustration growing as the new budget cycle approaches. Justice & Governance: PM Browne challenged DPP Clement Joseph’s stance that he owes the public “no explanation” for prosecutorial decisions, warning it could weaken trust in the justice system. Health & Safety: Tributes continue after surgeon Dr. Subbiah “Dr. Krishnan” Radhakrishnan was found dead outside his Belmont home; police investigations are ongoing. Regional Cooperation: OECS says Antigua and Barbuda will host a specialised services-sector training programme starting June 29.

Carnival & Culture: The Ministry of Creative Industries’ Department of Culture will host a Soca and Calypso adjudicators’ training workshop on Saturday, June 20, at Harrison Centre (AB College of Advanced Studies), focusing on scoring methods, rubric use, bias awareness, and mock judging. Youth & CHOGM: Twenty-three young people have been selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum taskforce, helping shape the programme and logistics for the forum running Nov. 1–4 alongside CHOGM. Public Health & Schools: “Hope for the Future” and partners held a community engagement drive on protecting children from unhealthy food marketing, linking school food environments to youth health advocacy. Education: Kaylei John-Baptiste topped the nation at the 40th National CSEC Awards, urging students to treat awards as a starting point. Back Pay Pressure: Public servants say they’re still waiting on retroactive back pay promised after the April election. Sports & Community: Potters Playing Field redevelopment got a boost as PM Browne pledged funding to expand the swimming pool, ahead of CHOGM. Regional Tourism: CHTA announced Barbados will host Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2027. Health: The medical fraternity mourns the sudden death of surgeon Dr. Radhakrishnan Krishna.

CHOGM 2026: Antigua and Barbuda’s preparations are “advancing steadily,” with Cabinet briefed on logistics, security, transport, accommodation and protocol, plus strong local buy-in—800+ people interested in volunteering and 130+ delegation liaison officers already identified. Sports & Community: PM Gaston Browne has pledged funding to expand the Potters Playing Field swimming pool, as the wider redevelopment pushes toward completion ahead of CHOGM; Cabinet also backed the return of top-tier football to the Antigua Recreation Ground on a September–December trial basis. Tourism Spotlight: Antigua and Barbuda’s cuisine and culture were featured on BBC MasterChef’s Finals Week episode, filmed at Nelson’s Dockyard and Jumby Bay, boosting international visibility. Health & Youth: “Hope for the Future” engaged children and families on protecting kids from unhealthy food marketing, while CARPHA trained regional staff in safe infectious specimen transport. Regional Watch: The U.S. denied a visa to newly elected CHTA president Gregor Nassief, raising concerns for Caribbean tourism leadership amid tighter U.S. entry rules. Education: The 40th National CSEC Awards honoured top performers, including Kaylei John-Baptiste as Student of the Year.

CHOGM 2026: Preparations are “advancing steadily” across logistics, security, transport, accommodation and protocol, with strong international interest and hundreds of local volunteers and liaison officers already lined up. Work Permits: Cabinet is tightening the work permit process and pushing wider public access to job vacancies so Antiguans and Barbudans get first shot before foreign workers are approved. Sports & Community: The Potters Playing Field redevelopment is on track for CHOGM, with officials inspecting progress on new multi-sport courts and the PM pledging funding to expand the swimming pool. Environment & Jobs: Antigua and Barbuda is exploring Japanese technical support to turn sargassum into marketable products, tackling disposal challenges while opening new economic opportunities. Tourism Standards: The tourism ministry is urging stakeholders to raise professionalism as Antigua charts future cruise growth. Youth Football: U20 preparations for CONCACAF are ramping up, with Omar Al Somah visiting the team for inspiration. Economy: Growth expectations for 2026 are revised down to about 4% as fuel and food costs bite. Local Governance: The Barbuda Council rejects a government land registry push, saying “Barbuda’s Lands are NOT for Sale,” with the matter before the courts. Justice & Public Trust: The DPP says he doesn’t have to explain prosecutorial discretion publicly, while critics argue transparency matters.

Carnival & Community: The Festivals Commission unveiled and sashed the seven delegates for the 2026 Queen of Carnival, with sponsors and Minister Dwayne George backing the contestants. CHOGM Works: Officials led by Minister Michael Freeland and High Commissioner Karen-Mae Hill toured Potters Playing Field, with hard courts and other upgrades on track for completion ahead of CHOGM 2026. Barbuda Land Fight: The Barbuda Council rejected the government’s push for a land registry and says island lands are “NOT for Sale,” pointing to court action and warning against attempts to register communal land without consent. Public Health: Health authorities activated precautionary Ebola measures, advising against travel to affected countries and adding enhanced screening for arrivals in Trinidad and Tobago. Tourism Access Shock: The newly elected CHTA president Gregor Nassief and his wife were denied US visa renewal, raising fresh concerns about Caribbean travel and CBI-linked scrutiny. Local Justice: Two Mack Pond residents were remanded in custody over the murder of Sheldon Dias. Missing Person: A mother in Antigua and Barbuda is still seeking answers one year after her son Thomas Vasquez disappeared. Infrastructure & Heritage: Archives staff say climate upgrades helped, but a leaking roof remains a problem. Economy Outlook: Government revised 2026 GDP growth down to about 4% as fuel and food costs bite.

Public Health: Trinidad and Tobago has activated precautionary Ebola measures, urging people to avoid travel to the DRC, South Sudan and Uganda, with enhanced screening for anyone who has visited or transited those areas. Regional Health & Demographics: A new UNDP report says Guyana and Haiti have the shortest life expectancy in the Caribbean, while Antigua and Barbuda are among those with longer life expectancy. Visa & Tourism Fallout: Dominica’s PM Skerrit said he can’t comment on the US decision not to renew CHTA president Gregor Nassief’s visa, which Nassief linked to partial US travel restrictions affecting Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. Cost Pressure on Growth: Prime Minister Gaston Browne says rising global tensions and fuel costs have forced government to scale back growth expectations, while still projecting expansion. CHOGM Momentum: Minister Rawdon Turner met Sustainable Markets Initiative representatives ahead of CHOGM 2026, flagging sewage treatment upgrades in St. John’s and plans for more accessible urban corridors. Local Services: ABNAB explained its accreditation fee increase, citing higher training costs and expanded responsibilities. Roadworks: Major overnight detours are planned for All Saints Road, with flag persons on site and businesses staying open. Sports & Youth: Antigua and Barbuda U20 players returned for CONCACAF preparations, with an airport meeting involving Syrian star Omar Al Somah.

CHOGM Momentum: A recycled bottle-cap mural featuring Sir Rodney Williams and Sir Vivian Richards is helping build public engagement ahead of CHOGM 2026, with residents invited to add caps to the artwork. Sewage & Urban Upgrades: Social and Urban Transformation Minister Rawdon Turner met Sustainable Markets Initiative representatives, flagging urgent needs including modernising St. John’s sewage treatment and improving accessible urban corridors. Tourism Push: Air Peace is marketing Antigua and Barbuda to Nigerian travellers, promoting the direct route and key attractions. Roadworks Disruption: The Ministry of Works announced an overnight detour on All Saints Road and says smaller concrete trucks are being used for tight-access projects. Health & Community: SLBMC reported 1,074 paediatric emergency visits so far in 2026, while Dr. Vonetta George was named a finalist for an international medical innovation award. Sports & Youth: Overseas-based A&B U20 players returned for CONCACAF preparations, and the team met Syrian star Omar Al Somah at the airport. Public Safety: Police are investigating the death of a U.S. visitor who became unresponsive during a scuba dive near North Sound.

Blue Economy & Schools: The Department of the Blue Economy marked World Ocean Day with a new mural campaign that brought primary pupils into the message from the start, aiming to spread Blue Economy awareness at home. CHOGM 2026 Prep: Ministers Rawdon Turner and Kiz Johnson met Sustainable Markets Initiative representatives on sewage upgrades, disability-friendly urban corridors, and other priorities ahead of CHOGM. Accreditation Fees: ABNAB explained its service fee increase, citing higher training costs and expanded accreditation responsibilities. Centenarian Week: PM Browne honoured centenarians as “living treasures,” while the Governor General visited the nation’s oldest centenarians, Edna Chiddick and Denzil O’Brien Cummins. Living Wage Debate: A panel says a living wage is possible but will take years, with businesses likely carrying costs that could raise prices. Public Safety & Justice: Two Mack Pond residents were remanded in the Sheldon Dias murder case, and four men were charged after a major Pares cannabis plantation seizure. Roadworks: All Saints Road detours begin overnight, with smaller concrete trucks added for tight access projects.

Drug Charges: Four men were charged after police dismantled an unlicensed cannabis plantation near Pares Village, seizing 158.1 pounds of cured cannabis and 1,119.1 pounds of plants; bail was set at EC$500,000 with strict reporting conditions. Health & Safety: Doctors say heat and dehydration are already sending patients in with symptoms like sudden blurred vision, headaches and fatigue, as officials warn temperatures could intensify. Local Governance & Services: Post and Customs are reforming workflows to improve international shipping and border security, with staff attending a regional summit in San Salvador to streamline mail processing and inspections. CHOGM Momentum: Residents are being invited to add to a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting mural at the Antigua Recreation Grounds using recycled bottle caps, building public engagement ahead of the summit. Education Support: AUA donated 20 whiteboards and flip charts to ABCAS, with supplies earmarked for the incoming School of Agriculture programme. Road Works: A nighttime detour is planned for major All Saints Road works between Buckley Line Roundabout and Herberts Junction. Earthquake Update: After a 6.4 quake near Cuba, authorities say there’s no tsunami threat to Antigua and Barbuda and no action is required.

Drug Enforcement: Four men were charged after police dismantled an unlicensed cannabis plantation near Pares Village, seizing 158.1 pounds of cured cannabis and 1,119.1 pounds of plants; Rodwell McCurdy, Vincent Isaac, Garry Creighton and Javen Ryner were granted bail of EC$500,000 each with strict reporting and witness-interference conditions. Education & Agriculture: AUA donated 20 whiteboards and flip charts to ABCAS, with supplies earmarked for the incoming School of Agriculture associate degree programme. Border Operations: The Post Office and Customs are reforming joint workflows, sending a delegation to a regional summit in San Salvador to improve mail processing and border security. CHOGM Momentum: Residents are invited to add bottle caps to a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2026 mural at the Antigua Recreation Grounds. Public Health & Weather: Doctors report more heat-related dehydration symptoms among patients as the Meteorological Service warns there are hazards every month and urges tsunami preparedness after a 6.4 quake near Cuba. Local Governance & Services: Works on All Saints Road trigger an overnight detour, while the Commonwealth Observer Group calls for urgent electoral boundary review and faster handling of election petitions.

Tourism & Culture: Caribbean Week in New York wrapped up after four days of talks and deals, with Antigua and Barbuda using the spotlight to push its heritage, Carnival build-up and Culinary Month, including a PIX11 appearance featuring Nelson’s Dockyard and Barbuda’s Frigate Bird Sanctuary. Cruise Boost: Antigua Cruise Port expects a busy mid-year run with Rhapsody of the Seas returning June 9 (2,026 passengers) and more visits on June 17 and 23, as the port targets 15+ ship calls through September. Disaster Readiness: CDEMA’s chief praised Antigua and Barbuda’s new five-year resilience framework, while Cabinet also heard updates on upgraded hurricane shelters and the growing pressure on regional disaster systems. Fuel & Cost of Living: Government says it will keep subsidising fuel even as APUA’s daily fuel bill jumped from about $460,000 (January) to around $886,000. Elections Reform: Commonwealth observers backed ABEC’s peaceful, transparent April 30 election, but urged faster petition timelines and reforms including boundary review and polling-station counting. Migration Talks: Antigua and Barbuda is awaiting a U.S. response after submitting a counterproposal on any acceptance of third-country deportees, rejecting the reported “up to 120” figure. Sports & Community: ABFA says it will spend about US$230,000 preparing its U20s for the Concacaf tournament in Mexico; and Good Humans 268’s recycled bottle-cap CHOGM mural at the ARG continues to grow.

Election Integrity Watch: Commonwealth observers say Antigua and Barbuda’s April 30 election was peaceful and transparent, but want faster resolution of election petitions, constitutional protection for ABEC independence, campaign finance reform, and urgent review of constituency boundaries. Migration Talks at a Standstill: Cabinet says Antigua and Barbuda is awaiting a U.S. response after submitting a counterproposal on third-country deportees, with PM Browne insisting the island nation won’t accept more than 120 (and only under strict limits). Family Support Push: Government backs MainCollect, a digital app to modernise child maintenance payments, with Cabinet citing 1,500–2,500 delinquent fathers on court records and discussing possible salary deductions for repeat defaulters. Fuel Subsidy Pressure: Despite APUA’s daily fuel bill rising to about $886,000, Cabinet says subsidies will continue to shield consumers. Tourism & Local Life: Antigua Cruise Port expects 15+ cruise calls from June to September, starting with Rhapsody of the Seas on June 9; and Cabinet approved two new preschool centres plus plans for a dedicated night court for traffic offences. Climate Risk Alerts: Met data shows May rainfall down 91% and temperatures rising sharply, prompting drought and heat preparedness.